ELECTION ANALYSIS 2005

Text Box: Nov. 15/05 Christmas Campaign Budget Front page coverage concludes Liberal election budget will provoke a Christmas campaign, with voting day set for early January. Several news reports observed the sweeping budget of $30 billion in tax cuts, plus billions more for social programs and debt reduction, marked the launch of the Liberal election campaign. Toronto Star columnist James Travers and others pointed out the Liberal government certainly would not leave billions of budget surplus dollars unspent on the eve of an election. The media spotlight will shift quickly from budget contents to parliamentary maneuvering. News reports noted a retroactive tax cut could corner opposition Conservatives, forcing them to defeat the policy to trigger an election. Advancing the story line, Prime Minister Paul Martin delivered a statement from the House of Commons lobby rejecting opposition proposals to call an election in early January for a voting day in mid-February, calling the idea “non-confidence lite.” Conservative Leader Stephen Harper countered effectively in media coverage, declaring opposition parties would not tolerate government campaigning for another four months before calling an election on the Liberal timetable. News reports noted the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, and other business groups welcomed tax cuts, while acknowledging they were introduced under intense political pressure on the eve of an election.

Minority Parliament Countdown

Lifeline Communications will provide ongoing daily analysis of national and regional media coverage as news developments build towards the possible collapse of Canada’s first minority parliament in 25 years.

Our media analysis will track the tone of news reports, columns, editorials and opinion pieces. Lifeline Communications will assess efforts of political parties to frame national issues, deliver key messages through the news media, and define the ‘ballot question’ voters may decide on election day.